The Love of Habib
Chapters 23.1

The next morning the three of them went to the river to wash clothes together. They used to always wash in the bathroom but today it is different. They want to feel what they have never felt before. Some of the other roommates also went along. There is no activity now. Pondok pesantren do not run as long as all the santri and santriwati are still in the hut. Activities that must be done are to pray together, eat in the cafeteria and go to teach. The rest santri or santriwati are free to do whatever they want except to visit dormitories that are of the opposite type or even out the cottage at will.

After they finished washing their clothes, they went to hang them beside the dormitory. There is a spacious yard that deliberately set up the cottage as a sunbathing area for the santriwati. Just to wash their clothes they spent almost 3 hours in the river. Half an hour is used to wash clothes and the rest is used to catch fish or play games. Only after getting bored did they finally stop and remember to return to the dorm.

Day comes. After completing the prayer, Aish and all the friends in the compact room went to the cafeteria for lunch. The cafeteria was vast, many places were empty so they were free to sit wherever they wanted.

"Aish, did you hear the rumors that were recently circulating in the boarding house?" On the sidelines of the meal the Girl takes the initiative to talk to Aish.

He naturally shook his head not knowing. To be honest he was not too interested in talking about gossip or taking care of other people's business because he thought it was not too important. But when it comes to habib Khalid, where might he miss!

"No, I'm not interested." Answer while chewing.

He lowered his head deliberately looking up at his plate while thinking when he could meet with Habib Khalid again?

Himself misses. There are many things to talk about with Habib Khalid. Especially regarding the woman, habib Khalid said the woman would come looking for her. But why hasn't he come yet?

"It's a pity" The girl smiled strangely. At a glance his eyes glanced to the side, looking briefly at the person who was focusing on eating, he had absolutely no idea that he had been the main topic of rumors since yesterday.

Sensing the gaze of the Girl, she frowned uncomfortably. Girls always bring bad wind. Lying if he's not worried about girls. She thinks girls are the type of people who quietly drift away. In other words, he is dangerous.

"This is about your best friend. Gisel, a lot of people are talking about him. More precisely people talk about Gisel's past before being sent to the boarding house. I heard you guys were hostile before because Gisel took your girlfriend Aish. Is this news true?" Ask in a made-up plain tone.

Instantly the rows of their dining table were immediately silent. Some of the roommates stared at the girl with dissatisfaction. Though they had tried to cover up this matter from Gisel. Because it's about Gisel's personal life. They shouldn't talk about this matter whether it's true or not. What they did not expect was that the Girl raised this topic right next to Gisel.

Gisel lowered his head. Forced swallowing of food that has just been put into the mouth. Instantly, his appetite instantly disappeared. He was not in the mood to continue eating anymore.

"Who said it?" Aish's breath was restrained.

"Girl, shut up and eat your food instead of talking too much." Cut out one of the roommates who care.

Aish's facial expression has changed, this is a sign that Aish is angry. But Girl doesn't 5 know her fear and just keeps babbling. Making hot Aish ears.

"Is this true"

Ting!

On the dining table, Aish throws his spoon on the plate, making a very loud noise. His apricot eyes blinked coldly staring straight into the eyes of the Girl.

"Did the sisters in the boarding school have no other activities than to talk about other people's affairs? Have you not been taught since entering this place that being busy taking care of the lives of others is very bad behavior? Rather than taking care of people's lives better take care of their own lives that are not necessarily true. I thought you were also such a person but it turns out that I was wrong because you who are considered holy are no different from us who live outside and far from strict religious education. You are like people who are not educated in religion, spread rumors a little and are very easy to pay attention to the lives of others. It's like your own life is right." Say Aish with sarcastic tone.

This reaction was not expected by the girls at all. Leaning on this issue means the Girl expects the reaction she wants. For example, the good relationship between Aish and Gisel will stretch because their past is revealed. Or better yet if Aish decides to no longer be friendly with Gisel, doesn't he have a chance to be close to Aish just like the beginning of entering the boarding school?

But Aish's reaction took her by surprise. In front of them Aish defended Gisel and cornered them, the santriwati, with sarcastic words.

"Don't misunderstand Aish. Not all kids in a boarding house are like that. In fact, there are only a handful of people who do not have a job and are busy taking care of other people's affairs. Don't listen to what the rumors say, we're not all going to believe the rumors." One of the roommates spoke up to calm Aish's anger.

The fact as what he said earlier, the people who like to gossip here are only a handful. They certainly have no other job but to talk about the ugliness of others. Everywhere, in the city or in the boarding school, everyone has almost no filter after plunging into society. To be honest it is natural to find such a person inside a boarding school. Although this place is bathed in knowledge and focuses on studying the Qur'an as well as religion, but it cannot change one's heart because the affairs of the heart only Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala knows.

"Yes Aish, people like that are just a few here. We and the other children have never interfered in this matter because we trust you more."

Aish also knows that the children in the boarding house are not all like that. These were just words of anger from within his heart, he really did not seriously say this. And the person he offended was a girl. He thinks this kid purposely revealed this matter here. As if to wait for a surprise, the girl's eyes said that.